State revokes 93 Lounge's liquor license

State revokes 93 Lounge's liquor license

The notorious 93 Lounge in Bay Ridge was closed for the day when this photo was taken. But the place will have to close permanently now that the New York State Liquor Authority has revoked its liquor license. Eagle file photo by Paula Katinas

Bar was target of complaints from neighbors

By Paula Katinas

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

A lounge that had become notorious in Bay Ridge for its bar fights, drug activity, and excessive noise levels is being forced to shut its doors for good after the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) revoked its liquor license.

The SLA yanked the liquor license out of the hands of the owners of 93 Lounge at 315 93rd St. following a public hearing on Aug. 13.

“I’m glad they did not prove to be a rubber stamp,” said Brian Kieran, chairman of Community Board 10. “They took the time and listened to the concerns of the residents of the block,” Kieran told the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

Councilman Vincent Gentile (D-Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights-Bensonhurst) and Board 10 District manager Josephine Beckmann both attended the public hearing. Gentile testified against the owners.

The lounge had been the target of numerous complaints from neighbors over the past few years. Residents of 93rd Street charged that 93 Lounge was the setting of late night bar fights that would spill out onto the sidewalk and disturb their sleep. Gentile said his office had been inundated with complaints from residents about the lounge.

“Since the day it opened, there have been issues with the 93 Lounge. Over the years, patrons have terrorized residents with rampant drug use, violence, disorderly conduct and public lewdness. Indeed, my office has fielded countless calls, emails, letters and complaints from block residents and homeowners who live in fear – afraid to walk to the corner for a quart of milk or sit on their stoop and enjoy a summer night’s breeze,” Gentile testified.

In addition to the violence, 93 Lounge had other problems, according to Kieran. “There was no certificate of occupancy,” he said. The owners had apparently failed to obtain a certificate of occupancy from the Department of Buildings. “They failed to operate the place in a responsible manner,” he said.

Board 10 has been working with Gentile to get something done about the bar for more than two years, Kieran said. “Our district manager, Josephine Beckmann, has been working closely with the councilman on this,” he said.

And the public was eager to see something done, Kieran added. “Whenever our Police and Public Safety Committee had a meeting on this, an unusually high amount of citizens would turn out,” he said.

The situation surrounding 93 Lounge came to a head in one bizarre incident that took place at the beginning of this year.

On Jan. 1, violence at the club reached its zenith when a brawl spilled out into the street. Two patrons allegedly got into a 2012 Acura, struck and injured four other patrons outside the bar, and then plowed into eight parked cars on 93rd Street.

Gentile said the suspects “got in their car and began mowing down other customers like bowling pins.”

The suspects, Amado Charles, 34, and Andrea Jobity, 39 who allegedly took turns behind the wheel, were arrested and charged with a variety of criminal offenses in connection with the incident. They were both indicted in January and are currently awaiting trial.

In the wake of the car crash, Gentile vowed that he would shut down 93 Lounge once and for all.

“Back in January I vowed to shut down this establishment for good and bring some peace back to the neighbors and residents who live nearby and today we’ve made that happen,” Gentile said after the hearing.